Alpha 2 giardin is an assemblage A-specific protein of human infective Giardia duodenalis.
Of the 7 genetic assemblages of the parasite Giardia duodenalis only 2 (A and B) are known to cause infections in humans. These assemblages have been characterized in detail at the genomic level but few studies have examined differences in the proteins expressed. Employing one and two-dimensional PAGE we have identified an assemblage A-specific protein of human infective G. duodenalis; alpha 2 giardin. The protein difference was evident using both electrophoretic techniques. Alpha 2 giardin is known to be a structural protein and associates with the caudal flagella and the plasma membrane; however, its exact function is unknown. Although several proteins unique to assemblage B were also observed, we were unable to identify these proteins due to a lack of genomic data available for assemblage B isolates. Together, these proteins represent distinct phenotypic differences between the human infective assemblages of G. duodenalis and support the need to revise the taxonomy of this parasite.
Steuart
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RF
WHO Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infection and Environmental Biotechnology CRC, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, 6150, Western Australia, Australia. R.Steuart@murdoch.edu.au
O'Handley
R
R
Lipscombe
R J
RJ
Lock
R A
RA
Thompson
R C A
RC
D000818:Animals; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005872:Giardia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D040901:Proteomics; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C038207:giardin protein, Giardia lamblia